touching

American  

[tuhch-ing] / ˈtʌtʃ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. affecting; moving; pathetic.

   a touching scene of farewell.

   Synonyms:

   piteous, poignant, stirring

2. that touches.

   Synonyms:

   tangent

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preposition

1. in reference or relation to; concerning; about.

   He wrote touching future plans.

touching British  

/ ˈtʌtʃɪŋ /

adjective

1. evoking or eliciting tender feelings

   your sympathy is touching

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preposition

1. on the subject of; relating to

Other Word Forms

• touchingly adverb
• touchingness noun
• untouching adjective

Etymology

Origin of touching

First recorded in 1250–1300; touch + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Lastly, make sure no items are touching so that the water can flow and wash effectively.

From BBC

Howe's cherished target is now within touching distance.

From Barron's

It could also include repetitive behaviours such as checking the mirror or repeatedly touching the part of the body that feels flawed.

From BBC

He could straddle the bike for seconds at a time without touching the ground.

From Literature

To review, the Canadian men’s and women’s teams were accused of double touching the stone during release.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• heartbreaking
• pathetic
• poignant
• sad
• stirring
• stunning
• wistful